Things To Do in Texas This Weekend: May 5-7

Welcome to the first weekend of May. Before the dog days of summer are here, Texans can head to Port Neches for RiverFest, Brenham for Maifest, New Braunfels for Wein and Saengerfest, and Cinco de Mayo festivities across the state.

Port Neches: May 3-7Family-friendly entertainment abounds at this five-day festival overtaking RiverFront Park on the Neches River. Enjoy a carnival, power boat races, a boat show, a fireworks display, a fishing tournament, barbecue cook-off, and live music.

Marfa: May 4-7Now in its seventh year, the film festival celebrates the work of visual artists—this year's line-up addresses the ways in which artists engage activism in the current political climate. Programming includes films by Cauleen Smith, Vic Berger, and historical Super-8 film work by Ana Mendieta.

Odessa: May 4-7The Cinco de Mayo-inspired Fiesta heads into it's second decade--one of the largest and longest-running events of its kind in West Texas. Entertainment at the Ector County Coliseum includes live concerts, a carnival, washer tournaments, team roping, and a car show.

Jefferson: May 5-7Take a trip back to the 1860s at this annual event, featuring historic home tours, a parade, a reenactment of the Diamond Bessie murder trial, and a tour of Jay Gould’s private rail car. The largest Civil War re-enactment in the state takes place during the weekend, where around 700 re-enactors engage in two full-scale battles. Additionally, the event features a parade downtown skirmish, a Ladies' Tea, and Grande Ball. Meanwhile, the Historic Jefferson Railway captures the era by recreating the battle of the Great Locomotive Chase.

Brenham: May 5-6Except for several years during World War I and World War II, this event has been held annually since 1881 and has evolved into one of the most widely attended festivals in Texas. The festival celebrates the authentic tastes and sounds of German-Texan heritage with a colorful parade, live entertainment, and plenty of authentic German fare. The Kinder Village features games and rides, including an antique carousel.

Midland: May 6The Museum of the Southwest celebrates the greatest two minutes in sports with its second annual Kentucky Derby–themed fundraiser and garden party on the front lawn of the historic Turner Mansion. Don your biggest hats and seersucker suits, drink mint juleps, play lawn games, eat southern fare and visit the Turner Legacy Galleries, an exhibition that highlights two Kentucky Derby–winning horses and displays their prized trophies.

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Published monthly by the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Highways, the official travel magazine of Texas, encourages travel to and within the Lone Star State and tells the Texas story to readers around the world.